Girl Genius steampunk badges: zeppelins, trilobites and Tesla Rangers

So far, the standout retail moment at this year's World Science Fiction Convention in Reno are the very reasonably priced "Girl Genius" badges from Kaja and Phil Foglio, inspired by the Hugo-Award-winning webcomic of the same name. Worked with great trilobite and zeppelin motifs, the badges were apparently manufactured by the same supplier who does the collectible pins for the Disney parks, and have a good, solid heft. I'm also VERY fond of the old-timey sheriff's badge (cogtoothed, not starred) emblazoned with TESLA RANGERS and enlivened with little electrikal curlicues.

I’m so glad to see Girl Genius given some more well-deserved page time here! The authors prefer to call GG “gaslamp fantasy” (a label of their own devising) rather than steampunk, because it ain’t really very punk, but that’s okay if it gives them more exposure, I suppose.

Girl Genius is a fun read and well worth buying some dead-tree comics or pins. I happen to have one of the older-style basic trilobite pins. It’s cool because even if someone doesn’t get the Heterodyne reference, they still know what a trilobite looks like. You aren’t required to wear welder’s goggles and a top hat with it, if you don’t want to.

Phil Foglio also has his entire “Buck Godot” series available on the Airship Entertainment site. It’s also a great read, if you like sci-fi comics.

Actually Yri, they call it Gaslamp Fantasy instead of steampunk because it is set not just in an alternative history, but one with a heavy fantasy element. As for exposure, you’d think winning 2 Hugo awards would be enough.

Out of loyalty, I have to recommend looking across the vendors aisle from Studio Foglio as well – it’s Instant Attitudes and Starcat Designs, who have been covered here before. (The Radical Militant Librarian shirts, specifically.) They do some great shirts and jewelry, and I always try and get a few from them at any given convention I see them at…
(disclosure : they’re also good friends of mine.)(Honestly, it’d be best to buy as much as you can from both sides of the aisle – the more money that Phil and Kaja get, the more likely that we’ll eventually get the trade paperback of the Buck Godot Gallimaufry series released…)

I love comics, and I love Girl Genius, but the “Hugo Award-winning” part isn’t all that impressive when you realize the same three comics get nominated every year: Girl Genius, Fables, and Schlock Mercenary. Not that these aren’t good comics, but there are so many things that could be nominated but aren’t because no one who nominates/votes in the Hugos knows or cares about them.